| Are you ready for Summer? Already got your Beach | | | | type. These are the ones that come from cone shells |
| attire picked outfor those Luau Parties? Planning a trip | | | | that have been tossed and tumbled in the surf and |
| to Hawaii? Got Puka Shells? | | | | sand over time until all that remains is the cupped top. |
| Well summer is coming fast and Puka Shell Necklaces | | | | The hole at the top (called Puka) is also naturally worn |
| are quite the rage once again. But beware for not all | | | | through, and is perfect for stringing into a necklace. |
| Puka Shells are created equal. Prices vary greatly as | | | | The color varies from white to light shades of beige |
| does the quality and types. | | | | and tan. The white one is very popular, and is said to |
| But what are Puka Shells and where do they come | | | | be most worn by the local surfers in Hawaii. |
| from? It seems to me the best place to find Puka | | | | A second type is known as Puka Shell Chips. The |
| Shells are on the White Sandy Beaches of the | | | | most popular color is white, but they are also available |
| Philippines. The first time I took a stroll on a beautiful | | | | in brown, mixed brown, dark brown (almost black), |
| white sandy tropical beach, I thought I could just walk | | | | gray, pink, and now even pastel and rainbow colors |
| barefoot like on the beaches of Southern California; | | | | thanks to the magic of coloring dyes. Theses chips are |
| places like Redondo Beach, Hermosa Beach, and | | | | made by hammering lager shells into jagged or square |
| Manhattan Beach, where, the sand is smooth and soft. | | | | shapes and then punching a hole for stringing. |
| However, the sand at Bohol, the beach I first ventured | | | | A third type is called Heishe, which are shells that are |
| on in the Philippines, had so many shells in the sand, | | | | cut and ground into smooth round flat shapes. Then a |
| that I had to wear my sandals because the shells | | | | hole is punched, and the shells are strung and polished |
| were so painful to step on. I was just amazed that | | | | on the edges with a leather belt. They come in all |
| there could be so many shells! | | | | colors, including white, beige, tan, violet, brownlip, graylip, |
| In fact the Philippines is probably the largest supplier of | | | | pinklip, blacklip, and countless other varieties. |
| shells in the world. Large Philippine companies like | | | | The labor to create the chips and heishe is all done by |
| Jumbo Pacific and Bedido export shells in bulk all | | | | hand and is very labor intense and dangerous to the |
| around the globe. In fact, Cebu City is known as the | | | | artisan's fingers. This is why the Philippines has an |
| Shell Capital of the Philippines. Why, there is even a | | | | advantage to produce these shells, since labor is very |
| beach in the Philippines called Puka Beach. So it is no | | | | cheap in this third world country. |
| wonder that Shells are King in the Philippines! | | | | So there you have a brief overview on Puka Shell |
| But what types of Puka Shells are there? Well there | | | | Necklace types, and now you can better shop for the |
| are at least three main types. The real Puka Shells | | | | style and quality you prefer. By being better informed |
| that are cupped and come from cone shells, jagged | | | | with this insight you can be sure of what you are |
| cut puka shells called Puka Chips, and smooth round | | | | getting, and enjoy the experiencing of that tropical |
| cut puka shells called Heishe. | | | | feeling. Have a happy beach party! |
| Technically, the real authentic puka shells are the first | | | | |